today the united states is quite a bit closer than ever to deciding its own energy destiny. a new energy reality and how we will decide to achieve it. what policies do need pursue with our elected leaders? what decisions will need to be made by local communities? while of the oil and natural gas industry itself need to do? here to answer these important questions and to talk more about the status of american energy for the coming year is the president and chief executive officer of the american petroleum institute. the one, the only, the nearly omniscient and possible master of the polar vector that brought you your four degrees temperature today, jack gerard. [applause] >> thank you, shelby. good afternoon and happy new year's to all of you. thank you for joining us today. a lot of time with the glowing introduction you stand as you have heard many times before and others will say thank you for reading that just the way i wrote it. i will say today that i did not write anything that shelby said today. [laughter] for those of you who believe that we brought this weather, it